Deathwalker Heating Up

[animal74 1,855]

 

With the young Malmo Nighthawks trying to crawl back into the playoff picture after missing the post season for the first time in seven years last season, a timely hot streak by their most veteran player sparked a 2-0-1 run in the last three games.

 

Druss Deathwalker is in his final season but he doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, especially not with Malmo desperately needing offense. In the last three contests, he scored seven goals and an assist for eight points to spur Malmo to take 5 of 6 points to get them within six points of 5^th place Davos.

 

After a dropping their last three games, the Nighthawks dealt European rival Moscow Menace an unexpected 3-2 loss, their first win against the Russian team this season after losing the first three games of the series. Deathwalker scored a power play goal and added an assist also with the man advantage to help Malmo to the much needed win. He also had six shots and led all skaters with eight hits to earn the 1^st Star of the game.

 

The next game saw him go off against the Vancouver Wolves, scoring all four of Malmo’s goals, including the 200^th of his career in a 4-2 win. It was the first time all season that Malmo had scored four goals in a game and only the third time this season they had produced consecutive wins. It was Deathwalker’s first hat trick of the season and he was again named the 1^st Star of the game as he also had a game-high 16 shots and seven hits and won all five of the face-offs he took.

 

Trying to win three straight games for the first time this season, Deathwalker scored two third period goals including the tying marker on the power play against the D. C. Dragons but the Nighthawks couldn’t best former teammates Tui Sova’s hat trick or Taylor Mourning’s winning shootout goal and ended up losing in the shootout 4-3.

 

Deathwalker’s three game total was 7 goals, 1 assist, 8 points, an even plus/minus rating, 27 shots, 20 hits, 7 blocked shots, 12 of 20 face-offs won, and 4 power play goals. Those numbers have vaulted him into various league-leading categories: 7^th in Goals, 5^th in Shots, T-2^nd in Penalty Minutes, T-6^th in Power Play Goals, T-5^th in Hat Tricks, and he remains 1^st in Hits.

 

This is the first time this season that Malmo has scored three or more goals in three straight games and Deathwalker scored seven of those ten goals. He leads the Nighthawks with 16 goals, 27 points and 2 game-winning goals. It’s safe to say that Malmo will need Deathwalker to keep rolling in order to secure a playoff spot and give him one more chance to win a second Continental Cup. Many experts may feel this is impossible given Malmo’s roster compared to others across the league, but the young Nighthawks believe strongly that they are slowly improving and may have the players to compete right now. Time will tell. As will Deathwalker.